Naomi; my mother in Law, Orpah;my sister in Law, and I walked on the narrow path. A few days ago some men from Bethlehem-Judea passed by our home with some news about the Lords visitation.

I tried to picture what lay ahead of me, in Bethlehem , all that came to mind was the life, I was leaving behind:

My late husband, God bless his soul loved me and I loved him too, but our relationship didn’t last for very long. I will always cherish the times we were together. My only regret is that we did not have children.

He always talked about Bethlehem; his home town and he had promised to take me there some day, when things got better, but he died before we could go.

The family had left Bethlehem because of famine; there was no food and hardly any money to purchase even the most basic things; life had become un bearable, even the sight of the olive tree near the house had ceased to be comforting; the olive oil they had ,but they could not use it to make bread without flour .They all decided either “out”, or die of hunger-as Naomi told me; she talked about Bethlehem often, they all did actually.

Every time the name Bethlehem was mentioned, which was quite often, my heart would leap, and I knew that one day I would be in Bethlehem and that , things would change for the best.

I got married early to get away from my people.
I was so tired of the rituals, sacrifices and way of life I led and I too wanted “out”.
Even then, every year my dad sent for me to go and participate in rituals to the Moabite gods.

My husband on the other hand, was very proud of his ancestry; He told me he was an Ephrathite .
I knew much about the whole family and knew within me, that I belonged with them.

Naomi and I had a special bond; we loved each other. We had gone through a lot together: She lost her husband and two sons in the land of Moab, and I lost my husband.
Every thing stopped for me for a while, all I could do was to be near Mama Naomi and ease her pain.
These days she does not smile often and life is not easy for us without a male figure in our family.

For some time now, I have been having dreams:
I dreamt that I was with Naomi In this beautiful place, lacking nothing. People surrounded us and we both looked very happy. Naomi was actually laughing! There was some one else in the dream , but I couldn’t clearly figure out who he was. I woke up feeling good.

The day I saw Naomi laugh , was when we heard that the Lord had visited His people and had provided bread for them; no more famine, no more worrying.
Naomi laughed and sung praises to God, swinging me and Orpah, round and round:

“The Lord has visited us
Shout for joy.
He has given us bread,
What a joy.

We are going back,
Back to Bethlehem;
To praise and worship,
For God has made Bethlehem,
The house of bread.

No more famine,
No more hunger,
No more sorrow,
In Bethlehem.”

I felt on top of the world, I actually felt satisfied and we hadn’t eaten the day`s meal as yet! I knew Bethlehem was the place for me.
If I were to go to Bethlehem, I would not only be escaping from the land of Moab, away from it’s customs and sacrifices; but also my life-it had become very empty, unfulfilling, and without hope.

“Ruth, Ruuth”, Naomi was calling me,
“Listen to me, I want each of you to return to your mother’s house…”she continued ,

Did I hear well?, was I now to go back? Back to…
No, no,I can’t do that, I have to go to Bethlehem. My dream ...,it has to come to fulfilment.
I’m not going to agree to anything that will keep me in Moab.

“Orphan has gone back to her people” I heard Naomi speak after what seemed to be eternity.
“To her gods, you must go after her”. Did she really say that?
I felt something rise within me, I knelt down before Naomi, right there on the path,…
I entered Bethlehem, beginning of harvest; have escaped from serving Moabite gods, Alleluia.

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